For the Reporter
The Auburn School District Board of Directors will recognize the 2017-18 Auburn School District Teachers of the Year at 7 p.m., May 14 in the James P. Fugate Administration Building, 915 Fourth St. NE,
The district selects a teacher of the year for the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Teachers of the Year are:
Jan Erie, Auburn High School
Erie has taught English/language arts at Auburn High for the last 11 years. She firmly believes all students can succeed, and it is her job to remove roadblocks. She makes personal connections with students and pushes them to reach their potential, regardless of where they start.
In addition to her work as a classroom teacher, Erie has been a driving force for Auburn High’s FIRST Robotics team since its formation in 2009. Her leadership with the robotics outreach program created workshops for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, with Auburn Parks and Rec, at local libraries and throughout the district. She helped create and run a leadership camp for Washington FIRST teams.
“Jan’s dedication to improving the world we live in one student at a time is obvious to all who meet her,” assistant principal Stacy Jordison said.
Kat Sherer, Rainier Middle School
Sherer is in her third year at Rainier but has taught for 20 years. She is an adaptive behavior specialist and works with students with emotional and behavioral challenges. She also is the athletic director, serves on the building leadership team, is the special education department chair and coaches multiple sports.
Since her arrival at Rainier, student success in general education and inclusion classes has increased dramatically while suspensions and behavior incidents have substantially declined.
Her department colleagues said, “Kat is the embodiment of an educator. She is a person we can all aspire to imitate.”
Bonnie Harvey, Washington Elementary
Harvey has served the students of Washington as their counselor for her entire 16-year teaching career. In her role, she works with the social and emotional well-being of students, which closely connects to their ability to have a growth mindset and make academic progress. Her work in the classroom, in small group settings and one-on-one counseling, plays a significant role in student success.
She is part of the district Behavior Leadership Team, and cultivates relationships with external agencies to support Washington’s students experiencing homelessness. She spends significant time connecting families with resources during the holidays.
Principal Pauline Thomas said, “Bonnie’s impact on students, their families, our staff and our community has been immeasurable.”
